Tunnel liner



July 7, 1936. c. B. cusHwA TUNNEL LINER 3 Shee'tS-Sheet 1 Filed Deo. 15, 1935 INVENTOR July 7, 1936. c. B. cusHwA 2,046,727

TUNNEL LINER Filed DeC. l5, 1955 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR c/m- @W "47 m July 7, 1936. c. B. cUsHwA 2,046,727

TUNNEL LINER Filed DSC. 13, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l INVENTOR 4 fybmfw @Wol mju Patented July 7, 1936 TUNNEL LINER Charles B. Cushwa, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to The Commercial Shearing & Stamping Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 13, 1933, Serial No. '702,188

6 Claims.

My invention relates to linings for earth borings and, in particular, to fabricated linings having greater strength than such structures as known heretofore.

Linings for earth borings, for example, tunnels, as usually constructed, include a plurality of rings disposed side by side and secured together, each ring being formed of an assembly of segments.

The loads sustained by such linings are not unform as to distribution or direction and this fact makes it essential that the lining have great strength in order to withstand the loads which may be concentrated at any particular area. While numerous types of segments for linings have previously been proposed, practically all of them with which I am familiar have been characterized by weak points. One of the points of greatest weakness in prior structures has been the fact that many of them rely on bent-up flanges to transmit circumferentially of the lining from one segment to its neighbors, the radialr force which may happen 'to be concentrated thereon. It is obvious that a bent flange has a very low resistance to further bending and is, therefore, a highly inemcient means for transmitting radial thrusts form one segment to adjacent segments.

I have invented a number of different types of segments from which linings may be assembled, all said types being characterized by a great capacity for transmitting stresses radially of the completed lining, as well as by a high degree of rigidity throughout their length. For a complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating present preferred embodiments and certain modications thereof. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an exterior plan view of a segment composed of rolled shapes welded together edge to edge;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof with parts in section;

Figure 3 is an end view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV--IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a modified form of segment made up of rolled shapes Welded together;

Figure 6 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure '7 is a. sectional view along the line VII- VII of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a partical plan view similar to Figure 5 of a further modified form of segment;

Figure 9 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure l shows a splice bar adapted to be used in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of segment comprising a single shaped plate;

Figure 12 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 13 is an end view;

Figure 14 is a sectional view along the line XIV-XIV of Figure 11;

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing a further modied form of the invention;

Figure 16 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 17 is an end view;

Figure 18 is a sectional view along the line XVIII-XVIII of Figure 15;

Figure 19 is an external plan view of a still further modied form of segment;

Figure 20 is a side view thereof; g

Figure 21 is a sectional view along, the line XXI- XXI of Figure 19;

Figure 22 is a partial view similar to Figure 20, to enlarged scale, showing the manner of forming the bolt holes in the side iianges; and

Figure 23 is a. similar view showing the finished appearance of the flanges adjacent the bolt holes.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the liner segment I0 of Figure 1 is composed of a plurality of T-members Il welded together edge to edge at I2. Angle members I3 are welded at I4 to the edges of the outer T-members. The webs I of the angle members and T-members are connected by cross bars I6 welded thereto and the webs may be notched to receive the bars. End plates I1 are welded at I8 to the ends of the T- members and angle members.

The segment shown in Figures 1 through 4 is characterized by a great rigidity and ability to transmit longitudinal stress to .adjacent segments. The webs of the side flanges I3 and the end plates I1 are provided with bolt holes for connecting each segment to the neighboring segments. The segments I0 are assembled in rings, in the usual manner, as the boring proceeds.

A slightly different type of segment is shown in Figures 5 through 7. The segment 20 comprises a plurality of T-members 2l welded together at their edges at 22. Angle members. 23 form the edges of the segment. The Webs of the angle members 23, at one end of the segment, extend beyond the ends of the flanges, providing connecting prongs 2lia adapted to reach into the open end of the adjacent segment for connection thereto.

A segment of the character shown in Figures 5 through 7 permits the construction of a lining ring which has substantially continuous ribs formed by the webs of the T-members and. angle members. These parts of adjacent segments abut squarely together except the webs of the edge angle members, which are offset as shown in Figure 5, for the purpose of making connections. The segment 20 also has great rigidity and a ring composed of segments of this type offers high resistance to the compression forces.

Figures 8 and 9 show a segment 25 which is similar to that of Figure 5 in all respects except that the ends of the edge angle members are flush with the ends of the T-members forming the central portion of the segment. Splice bars 26 adapted to be bolted to the webs ofthe edge angles of abutting segments adjacent their ends serve to connect adjacent segments in substantially the same manner as the offset prongs 24 of Figure 5.

Figures 11 through 14 show a slightly different type of liner segment. The segment 21 is shaped from a single plate, the edges of which are bent downwardly to form side flanges 28 and end flanges 29. Adjacent the center of the web portion 30 of the segment, a stiflening rib 3| is formed by slitting the web at 32 and bending inwardly the web material between the slits. The pressed-in rib 3| greatly increases the rigidity of the segment over the corresponding value for a. plain segment with integral pressed flanges.

Figures 15 through 18 show another form of segment. The segment 33 is pressed from a single sheet but has separately formed end Walls 34. The web of the segment is bent to form side flanges 35 and intermediate portions of the web are doubled back on themselves to form ribs 36 extending lengthwise of the segment. The end walls 34 may conveniently be attached by Welding in the manner already indicated. It will be apparent that the segment of Figures 15 through 18 has a rigidity and stress transmitting characteristic quite similar to those of the segments shown in Figures 1 and 5. The number of ribs 3i, of course, may be varied to suit various conditions.

The forms of the invention shown in Figures 11 through 18 are also disclosed and claimed in my application Serial No. 41,435 which is a division hereof.

Figures 19 through 23 show a further form of segment. The segment 38 is also formed of a single sheet of material and has integral side and end flanges 38 and 40. The web portion of the segment is corrugated as at 4I to increase its rigidity. 'Ihe holes in the side flanges are initially formed as shown at 42 in Figure 22. The holes are subsequently swaged to the circular form shown at 43 in Figure 23, with the resultant deformation of the edges 39 adjacent the holes. In this way, a sufllcient section of metal between the edge of the hole 43 and the edge of the flange 39 is provided without making the flange of excessive depth.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that my invention provides a number of forms of finer segments characterized by greater strength than those known heretofore, particularly with reference to the resistance of the segment to bending of the flanges thereof relative to the body portion.

While I have illustrated only a few possible embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that it may be otherwise constructed than as shown and described herein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a liner segment, a' plurality of T-members having their flanges welded edge to edge, angle members having their flanges welded to the flanges of the outer T-members, and end plates welded to the ends of said angle members and T-members.

2. A liner segment according to claim 1 characterized by cross bars welded to the webs of said angle members and T-members.

3. A liner segment comprising a plurality of rolled shapes welded edge to edge forming a plate with spaced ribs extending longitudinally, and end walls attached to the ends of said shapes.

4. A liner segment comprising a plurality of T-members with their flanges welded edge to edge, and angle-members having their flanges welded to the outer flanges of the outer T- members.

5. A liner segment as defined in claim 4, wherein the webs of said angle members extend beyond the ends of said T-members, the projecting portions of the webs of the angie members being offset with respect to the remainder thereof.

6. A liner segment as defined in claim 4 wherein the Webs of certain of the members welded together extend beyond the ends of the flanges thereof.

CHARLES B. CUSHWA. 

